Retractable toilet seat handle

ABSTRACT

A toilet seat handle for lifting and lowering a toilet seat is provided. When not in use, the handle retracts to a position inside the toilet seat. When the toilet seat needs to be lifted of lowered, the handle is released and extended from inside the toilet seat. The handle is then used for lifting and lowering of the toilet seat. Because of the retractable nature of the handle, the handle is not exposed from the toilet seat except when lifting and lowering the seat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to toilets and morespecifically to a retractable toilet seat handle to lift and lower atoilet seat.

[0002] Toilet seats, by the nature of their use, may become veryunsanitary. For example, a toilet may become infected with germs as moreand more people use the toilet. In addition, splatter from the use ofthe toilet may contaminate the toilet seat further creating unsanitaryconditions.

[0003] The use of a toilet often requires the lifting and lowering ofthe toilet seat. Thus, the seat must be contacted and manually grabbedto raise and lower the seat. Users of the toilet that need to raise andlower the seat may become susceptible to contracting germs from the seatbecause the entire lid is exposed to splatter and/or germs during theuses of the toilet. Handles may be provided to facilitate lifting andlowering the toilet seat. However, the handles are also exposed tosplatter and germs and thus, do not provide a sanitary solution forlifting and lowering the seat.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A toilet seat handle for lifting and lowering a toilet seat isprovided according to one embodiment of the invention. When not in use,the handle retracts to a position inside the toilet seat. When thetoilet seat needs to be lifted or lowered, the handle is released andextended from inside the toilet seat. The handle is then used forlifting and lowering of the toilet seat. Because of the retractablenature of the handle, the handle is not exposed from the toilet seatexcept when lifting and lowering the seat.

[0005] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of theinvention herein may be realized by reference of the remaining portionsin the specifications and the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 illustrates a toilet seat handle system including aretractable handle according to one embodiment;

[0007]FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of toilet seat handle system withthe retractable handle in a retracted position;

[0008]FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of toilet seat handle system withthe retractable handle in a retracted position;

[0009]FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of toilet seat handle system withthe retractable handle in a retracted position;

[0010]FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of toilet seat handle system withthe retractable handle in an extended position;

[0011]FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of toilet seat handle system withthe retractable handle in an extended position;

[0012]FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of toilet seat handle system withthe retractable handle in an extended position;

[0013]FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method for lifting andlowering a toilet seat; and

[0014]FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a toilet seat handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015]FIG. 1 illustrates a toilet seat handle system 100 according toone embodiment. Toilet seat handle system 100 is shown with a toiletseat handle 104 in an extended position with handle 104 located in atoilet seat cover 102. Toilet seat handle system 100 also includes arelease mechanism 106, a locking mechanism 108, and an extendingmechanism 110. As shown, the handle 104 is insertable into an innercavity 112 of toilet seat 102.

[0016] Handle 104 may be a planar member shaped to fit into inner cavity112. In one embodiment, handle 104 is a substantially rigid planarmember comprising a handle part that is designed to protrude from toiletseat 102 when handle 104 is released. The handle part may be shaped in apolygonal manner where the handle part may be gripped.

[0017] Additionally, handle 104 includes a base part that locks handle104 in a retracted position when handle 104 does not protrude fromtoilet seat 102. As shown, the base part of the handle may be a U-shapedbase where a center portion is free to receive locking mechanism 108. Itwill be understood that a person skilled in the art will appreciateother shapes for handle 104.

[0018] Locking mechanism 106 may be any device capable of locking handle104 in a retracted position. Also, locking mechanism 108 may be capableof locking handle 104 in the extended position when handle 104 protrudesfrom toilet seat 102. In one embodiment, locking mechanism 108 isdesigned to fit in the center part of the U-shaped base part of handle104. As handle 104 is retracted into the inner cavity of toilet seat102, locking mechanism 108 locks the handle in place. In one embodiment,locking mechanism 102 is a block that pivots to lock handle 104 in theretracted position.

[0019] Release mechanism 106 includes any mechanism capable of unlockinghandle 104 from its retracted position. In one embodiment, releasemechanism 106 is a button that includes a stem that contacts lockingmechanism 108. When the button is depressed while handle 104 is in thelocked retracted position, the button stem contacts locking mechanism108 and unlocks the handle, thereby releasing handle 104 into theextended position. In one embodiment, the button stem contacts lockingmechanism 108 causing locking mechanism 108 to pivot and release handle104 from its locked position.

[0020] Extending mechanism 110 may be any mechanism capable of extendinghandle 104 from the retracted position to the extended position. Forexample, extending mechanism 104 is one or more springs 110. In oneembodiment, two springs that contact the two ends of the U-shaped baseof handle 104 are included. As handle 104 is retracted into inner cavity112, springs 110 are compressed into a loaded position. Once handle 104is unlocked, the springs are free to uncompress and push handle 102 intothe extended position where handle 104 protrudes from toilet seat 102.

[0021] FIGS. 2-4 illustrate toilet seat handle system 100 in a retractedposition according to one embodiment. When in the retracted position,the entire handle 104 is retracted in toilet seat 102. As shown in FIG.2, extending mechanism 110 is in a compressed position. Additionally,locking mechanism 108 has locked handle 104 in its retracted position.Release mechanism 106 is also in a protruding position when handle 104is locked in the retractable position. As shown, the button is slightlyraised above the top surface of toilet seat 102. This allows a user todepress button 106 to release handle 104. Although button 106 is shownin a raised position, it will be understood that button 106 may be flushwith the top surface of toilet seat 102 or below the surface of toiletseat 102. Locking mechanism 108 is also in its locked position.

[0022]FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of locking handle 104 in aretracted position. As shown, handle 104 includes a notch 113 in theU-shaped portion of the base. As handle 104 is retracted into seat 102,locking mechanism 108 pivots to lock handle 104 when notch 113 reacheslocking mechanism 108. A portion of locking mechanism 108 protrudes intonotch 113 to lock handle 104 in the retracted position.

[0023]FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of toilet seat handle system 100. Asshown, locking mechanism 108 has its flat surface flush with notch 113of the inner slot of the U-shaped base part of handle 104. As shown,notch 113 is positioned where locking mechanism 108 pivots and lockshandle 104 in a retracted position.

[0024] FIGS. 5-7 show handle system 100 in an extended position. FIG. 5shows a side view of handle system 100. As shown, button 106 has beendepressed and subsequently unlocked locking mechanism 108. When lockingmechanism 108 unlocks handle 102, the compressed springs of releasemechanism 110 are free to release into an uncompressed state. Thus, thesprings extend handle 102 into an extended position where handle 102protrudes from inner cavity 112.

[0025]FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of handle system 100. As shown,locking mechanism 108 is in an unlocked position. Also, lockingmechanism 108 has been released from its locked position inside of notch113. Thus, handle 104 was freed from the locking position and extendingmechanism 108 extended handle 104 from inner cavity 112.

[0026]FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of handle system 100 according toone embodiment. As shown, a slot portion of the U-shaped base has beenextended where button 106 is shown at the end of a slot. Also, lockingmechanism 108 is shown flush with the inner sides of the U-shapedportion of handle 104. Notch 113 is also free of locking mechanism 108.

[0027]FIG. 8 illustrates a simplified flowchart for a method of liftingand lowering a toilet seat according to one embodiment. In step 800,toilet seat 102 may be a lowered or raised position. For discussionpurposes, it is assumed that toilet seat 102 is in a lowered position.Toilet seat handle 104 is in a retracted position inside inner cavity112 of toilet seat 102. Thus, handle 104 is protected from germs,splatter, etc. because handle 104 is inside toilet seat 102. Also,locking mechanism 108 is in a position so handle 104 is locked andsprings 110 are in a compressed state.

[0028] In step 802, when it is desired to lift toilet seat 102, releasemechanism 106 is contacted and locking mechanism 108 is unlocked. Thus,handle 104 is free to be extended from toilet seat 102. Springs 110 thenuncompress from their compressed state because handle 104 is unlocked(step 804). As springs 110 uncompress, handle 104 is extended from innercavity 112 to protrude from an outer periphery of toilet seat 102 (step806). Handle 104 may be used to lift toilet seat 102 to a raisedposition (step 808).

[0029] In step 810, once in a raised position, handle 104 may beretracted into toilet seat 102. For example, in one embodiment, handle104 is pushed back into toilet seat 102. When handle 104 is completelypushed into cavity 112, locking mechanism 108 locks the retracted handle104 in the retracted position (step 812). In one embodiment, lockingmechanism 108 protrudes into notch 113 of handle 104. Additionally,release mechanism 106 may be set to an active position where releasemechanism 106 is able to release handle 104 when contacted. Once handle104 no longer protrudes from an outer periphery of toilet seat 102,handle 104 is in the locked position. Also, springs 110 are compressedinto a compressed nature when handle 104 is pushed into cavity 112.

[0030] A person skilled in the art will appreciate other ways aretracting handle 104. For example, release mechanism 106 may be pressedand cause handle 104 to be automatically retracted into toilet seat 102.

[0031]FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of handle 104. Handle 104includes a sliding mechanism 114 that is used to slide handle 104 in andout of seat 102. In this case, a sliding mechanism 114 is attached tohandle 104 and protrudes through the top of seat 102. When a userdesires to retract handle 104, sliding mechanism 114 is pushed back andhandle 104 is retracted into inner cavity 112. When a user desires torelease handle 104 from the inside of inner cavity 112, slidingmechanism 114 is pushed forward and handle 104 is release from innercavity 114. Handle 104 then protrudes from seat 102.

[0032] Accordingly, a retractable toilet seat handle is provided byembodiments of the invention. Because handle 104 is retracted inside thetoilet seat while not in use, handle 104 is protected from germs andsplatter. Thus, a sanitary handle is provided.

[0033] The above description is illustrative but not restrictive. Manyvariations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in theart upon review of the disclosure. The scope of the invention should,therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description,but instead should be determined with reference to the pending claimsalong with their full scope or equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet seat handle for a toilet lid, the toiletseat handle comprising: a retractable member shaped to fit inside aninner cavity of the toilet lid; a mechanism configured to release theretractable member from the toilet lid, wherein the released retractablemember protrudes from an outer periphery of the toilet lid.
 2. Thetoilet seat handle of claim 1, wherein the retractable member is planarshaped.
 3. The toilet seat handle of claim 1, wherein the retractablemember is substantially rigid.
 4. The toilet seat handle of claim 1,wherein the retractable member comprises a plastic material.
 5. Thetoilet seat handle of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises lockingmechanism, wherein the locking mechanism locks the retracted member in alocked position.
 6. The toilet seat handle of claim 5, wherein thelocking mechanism comprises a block.
 7. The toilet seat handle of claim6, wherein the retractable member comprises a notch, wherein the blockprotrudes in the notch when the retractable member is in a lockedposition.
 8. The toilet seat handle of claim 1, wherein the mechanismcomprises a unlocking mechanism, wherein the unlocking mechanism unlocksthe retractable member from a retracted, locked position.
 9. The toiletseat handle of claim 8, wherein the unlocking mechanism comprises abutton.
 10. The toilet seat handle of claim 1, wherein the mechanismcomprises a release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism extends theretracted member from the inner cavity.
 11. The toilet seat handle ofclaim 10, wherein the release mechanism comprises one or more springs.12. A toilet seat handle for a toilet lid, the toilet seat handlecomprising: a retractable member shaped to fit inside an inner cavity ofthe toilet lid; a locking mechanism to lock the retractable member in aretracted position inside the inner cavity; and an unlocking mechanismto unlock the retractable member from the locked retracted position,wherein the retractable member is released from the inner cavity whenunlocked by the unlocking mechanism causing the retractable member toprotrude from an outer periphery of the toilet lid.
 13. The toilet seathandle of claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a block. 14.The toilet seat handle of claim 13, wherein the retractable membercomprises a notch, wherein the block protrudes in the notch when theretractable member is in a locked position.
 15. The toilet seat handleof claim 12, wherein the release mechanism is configured to extend theretracted member from the inner cavity.
 16. The toilet seat handle ofclaim 12, wherein the release mechanism comprises one or more springs.17. The toilet seat handle of claim 12, wherein the retractable memberis planar shaped.
 18. The toilet seat handle of claim 12, wherein theretractable member is substantially rigid.
 19. The toilet seat handle ofclaim 12, wherein the retractable member comprises a plastic material.20. The toilet seat handle for a toilet lid, the toilet seat handlecomprising: a retractable member shaped to fit inside an inner cavity ofthe toilet lid, wherein the retractable member is retractable to aposition inside the inner cavity; a block configured to lock theretractable member when the retractable member is retracted inside theinner cavity; a button configured to unlock the retracted retractablemember when the button is contacted; and one or more springs, whereinthe one or more springs are compressed when the retractable member isretracted inside the inner cavity and when the retracted retractablemember is unlocked, the one or more springs uncompress and extend theretracted retractable member from the position inside the inner cavity,wherein the released retractable member protrudes from an outerperiphery of the toilet lid.
 21. A toilet seat handle for a toilet lid,the handle comprising: a retractable member shaped to fit inside aninner cavity of the toilet lid; and a sliding member coupled to theretractable member, wherein the sliding member protrudes from the toiletlid, wherein the sliding member is usable to retract and release theretractable member from the inner cavity.
 22. The handle of claim 21,wherein the sliding member protrudes from the top of the toilet seat.